What would be the lowest recoil round on Doc's 9mm list?

**tnedator** · 02-04-13, 20:52

Ok, not usually what I would be focused on for myself, but recently my wife has taken an interest in both learning to shoot and having a weapon for self defense. She has spent some time shooting a .22 pistol, and both taken a CCW class and taken one on one lessons with an instructor (long time ago I decided it's best for my marriage not to try and teach her things). The lessons were also with a .22. We are about to move her up to a real caliber, and I had briefly thought about a .380, but really think that's a mistake.

Anyway, eventually her gun will likely be an M&P Shield in 9mm. So, I'm curious what the lowest recoiling round on Doc's list would be. A 147gr I would assume. Correct? Any tend to be softer shooting than others? I use 124 +p HST, but I think that's going to be too snappy for her.

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**WS6** · 02-04-13, 23:15

147gr Ranger T has always been very gentle imo.

**Nephrology** · 02-05-13, 06:45

My guess is most of the std pressure 147gr loads. Ranger T as noted is pretty light - noticeably lighter than Golden Sabers - I have not shot HST or 147gr Speer Gold Dots personally. You could also go with std pressure 124gr Speer Gold Dots.

**xcop** · 02-05-13, 07:03

After trying everything I agree that 147 standard pressure is the softest shooting. I hate to throw a wrench into your Shield plans but the vast majority of women who have asked to try one of my mini 9's...a Glock 26, A Kahr MK9 and a Kahr K9 can not reliably manually cycle the slide. This includes a lady dentist. When I was working as an RSO at ccw training I saw the same thing. Make sure she can easily cycle the slide by hand. Perhaps what I have seen is the exception but you never know and the shorter the slide the stronger the spring.

**tnedator** · 02-05-13, 09:13

Originally Posted by xcop

After trying everything I agree that 147 standard pressure is the softest shooting. I hate to throw a wrench into your Shield plans but the vast majority of women who have asked to try one of my mini 9's...a Glock 26, A Kahr MK9 and a Kahr K9 can not reliably manually cycle the slide. This includes a lady dentist. When I was working as an RSO at ccw training I saw the same thing. Make sure she can easily cycle the slide by hand. Perhaps what I have seen is the exception but you never know and the shorter the slide the stronger the spring.

Yes, it's a very real concern. I think I'm going to start her out (instructor actually) with an M&P Pro, which is both easy to cycle and the 5" barrel/slide makes it very soft shooting, and then ramp down in size from there. As she goes down in size, the recoil will increase and the effort to cycle a round will increase, and we'll see what she can handle.

**ST911** · 02-05-13, 09:47

The standard pressure 124s and 147s are very agreeable even in the smaller guns.

Where operation of the slide is difficult, adjust the technique. Bring the gun close to the body at mid-line, pushing the receiver out with the strong hand and pulling the slide rearward with the support hand. When done this way, few continue to find the slide difficult.

**tnedator** · 02-06-13, 07:55

Originally Posted by Skintop911

Where operation of the slide is difficult, adjust the technique. Bring the gun close to the body at mid-line, pushing the receiver out with the strong hand and pulling the slide rearward with the support hand. When done this way, few continue to find the slide difficult.

Thanks. That's a good tip.

**Bruce in WV** · 02-06-13, 08:11

Originally Posted by xcop

Make sure she can easily cycle the slide by hand.

Great advice. We shopped for a 9mm for my wife at a store where she could try out a sample of everything they had in stock under the watchful eyes and tutelage of an RSO from their in-store range (when stores still had lots to choose from). My wife could only reliably cycle the slide on the M&P9 Pro. She bought that one and learned to shoot it with the 147gr Gold Dot.

**tnedator** · 02-06-13, 08:20

Originally Posted by Bruce in WV

Great advice. We shopped for a 9mm for my wife at a store where she could try out a sample of everything they had in stock under the watchful eyes and tutelage of an RSO from their in-store range (when stores still had lots to choose from). My wife could only reliably cycle the slide on the M&P9 Pro. She bought that one and learned to shoot it with the 147gr Gold Dot.

In terms of ease of racking the slide and reduced recoil, a 9 pro (assume you mean the 5" pro and not the 4.25" pro) is hard to beat.